Record Shops

I have read with interest that vinyl record shops are returning. Some companies are dusting off the presses and starting to press vinyl again.

To me, Cds are very cold and the sound (even though it is technically great) lacks warmth.

As a DJ there was something about the physical handling of records, cueing them up, and
starting them to play.

As records were cued a lot they even developed a cue burn which was annoying. We finally found a cartridge didn't have that problem.

When I was growing up, record shops were almost as important as a radio station. In Little Rock, Moses Melody Shops grew to several locations. At the record shop, you could go into a booth and play a record or listen to it over earphones.

Cliff Ford, a Little Rock D.J., had a record store called "Cliff's Spinner Santum".
I remember going there at midnight when a certain record would be available.

Radio stations and record shops worked closely together to promote rock and roll.
All top 40 stations had a record survey sheet, published once a week. The ranking of your favorite song was a big deal.

Today, music companies complain sales are down. Hmmmm let's see. Independent record shops have largely been replaced by corporate giants. No music surveys.... Little if any cooperation with radio stations. Large corporate stations...is it hard to figure out.